Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is related to his military service.,The Veteran's neck disability is related to his military service.,The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is related to his military service.,The Veteran's low back disability is aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for restoration of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on statutory housebound status is denied as he does not meet the criteria to establish SMC at the statutory housebound rate.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a lower back disability, PTSD, and left knee disability due to incomplete service treatment records. The VA will attempt to obtain these records from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back condition is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional analysis of the evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD, tinnitus, low back pain and dysfunction, right knee pain and dysfunction, and depressive disorder due to another medical condition. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further development.

Service connection is granted for prostate cancer and hypertension associated with herbicide agent exposure under the PACT Act.,The Veteran's service in Korea from June 1968 to January 1969 was presumed due to his exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee strain has been withdrawn and dismissed.,Service connection for lumbosacral strain and IVDS is denied due to lack of evidence showing a direct or secondary relationship to service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and his chronic thoracolumbar spine strain evaluation is remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the claims for left hip joint pain, right hip joint pain, and lower back pain due to further development being needed. The Veteran's hip conditions are presumed to be related to toxic exposure during service.

The Board dismissed the appeal as the Veteran and his representative withdrew their appeal before a decision was made.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar DDD, right hip degenerative arthritis, and a right leg disability should be remanded due to errors in obtaining relevant VA treatment records.

The Veteran's right thumb and hand conditions were denied initial compensable ratings.,Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was dismissed as it has been granted in full.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for status post right hip replacement, lumbar spine DDD, and status post right knee total replacement. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, left ear hearing loss, and a psychiatric disorder (claimed as secondary to prostate cancer and skin cancer).,The Veteran's claims were not supported by the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and a higher rating for spondylosis of the lumbar spine was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support ratings in excess of those assigned.

The Board has identified a duty to assist error by the RO in failing to request records from both the Air Force Service Branch and his Air Force Reserve unit for the back disability claim. The Veteran should receive a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's back disability is related to service.,For the eosinophilic esophagitis, hypertension, and rhinitis claims, the Board has identified a duty to assist error by the RO in failing to provide the Veteran with a VA examination. The Veteran should receive a VA examination to determine if these disabilities are related to service or resulted from an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness.

The Veteran's asthma is currently rated at 60 percent disabling. The claims for service connection of a lumbar spine disorder and right knee disorder are being remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities, finding that these conditions were incurred in line of duty during his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of osteoarthrosis of the spine (claimed as back condition) is remanded due to a lack of sufficient evidence to decide the claim, including a need for an examination to determine if his military service resulted in his current back condition.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his lumbar spine disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support ankylosis or incapacitating episodes due to intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS). The issues of entitlement to TDIU and SMC based on aid and attendance/housebound status are remanded.